Potato digger



March 31. 1925. w 7 1,531,907

F. H. EDMONDS POTATO BIGGER Filed Sept.. 6. 1923 INVENTOR E Edmwzds A TTORNE YS Patented Mar. 31, 1925.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK HENRY EDMONDS. OF BOARDMAN. OREGON.

POTATO BIGGER.

Application filed September To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERH a HENRY EoMoNns, a citizen of the llnited States. and a resident of Boardman, in the county of Morrow and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato Diggers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a potato digger.

The invention more particularly relates to an attachment for plows whereby to enable said plow to be util zed as a potato digg r.

The object of the invention to provide an attachment of the above character which may be secured in an easy and expeditious manner to any conventional type of moldboard plow and in receiving relation to the earth or soil turned by the moldhoard of said plow.

A further object of the invent on is that it is adapted to separate potatoes from the earth or soil which may be deposited thereon from the plow to which the attachment may be secured in a highly et'ricient manner.

Other objects and advantages relating to details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts will hereinafter appear in the detailed description to follow.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, showing a moldboard plow and an attachment of the present invention secured thereto;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an attachment embodying the present invention; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation particularly illustrating the construction of one of the separating bars together with the prongs and runner or heel carried thereby employed in the CUllStIllC- tion of the attachment.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, in Figure 1 there is shown a conventional form of moldboard plow of which 10 is the beam, 11 the moldboard, 12 the point and 13 the handles.

The attachment of the present invention comprises a rack generally designated by the reference character 14, a drag link or bar 15 and a battle member 16. The rack 11 more specifically comprises a plurality of bars 17 which may be of any suitable strap iron or rods and which are tied together at Serial No. 664.965.

their forward ends by the two cross members 18 and 18. The cross member 18 has each end turned upwardly as at 17'. The bars 17 are spaced substantially as shown and the rear end of each bar 17 is provided with an upwardly curved portion 19 as best shown in Fig. 3. The upwardly curved portion 19 in each instance terminates in a substantially horizontal portion 20. To the rear end of each bar or strap 17 there secured what may be termed a heel or runner 91, said heel or runner as shown being in the form of a strap or bar and having its rear end terminating in an upwardly and then rearwardly extending portion, as at 532. Each strap 21 is secured to the assoc ated strap 17 by means of rivets or the like, as indicated a 23, and each strap 21 extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the associated strap 17 that is the strap 21 in each instance extends inwardly with relation to the strap or bar 17 to which the same is secured. lVith the exception of the outer most bar or strap 17 each of the remaining bars 17 has secured thereto a prong or bar member 524. This bar member has its forward end turned downwardly and secured by means of rivets or the like, as at 25, to the upwardly extending portion 19 of the associated bar 17. The rear end portion of each prong 2 1 is turned upwardly and then downwardly, as at 26.

The bafllc member 16 comprises two straps 28 and 29, said strap 28 having its forward end secured to the outer upward turned end of bar 18 and upon the outer side of the rack. This strap extends inwardly and then rearwardly as best shown in Fig. l and is adapted to serve to prevent potatoes rolling from the rack 14 as plow proceeds forwardly. The strap 29 has its one end secured to an intermediate portion of the strap 28, as shown in Figure 2, and its other end secured to the inner and upward turned end of bar 18 and this strap serves to brace the strap 28 and also prevents potatoes rolling forward. It also may be mentioned that the strap 28 is of resilient material in order to increase its operative efficiency.

The member 15 has its rear end bolted to the inner ends of the cross bars 18 and 18 and the forward end of this link is formed with an integral sleeve 30. From the forward end of the plow beam 10 there is extended a bolt 31, said bolt being suitably secured against longitudinal movement and braced by the bar 32. The outer end of this bolt is extended to the sleeve 30 of the dragi link or bar and the sleeve is ren'iowihli' held upon the bar by a nut 31).

As is obvious a plow of conventional con struction and of the type shown nia be easily provided with suitable means for eonnecting the attachment of the present invention, that the bolt 3t heretofore de scribed.

In the use of the device. the ptow should be drawn so that the same Wil turn the soil containing ntatoes: that is. the plow hould be guided so that the ridge representing; a row of potatoes will be turned by the inoldboard 11 and deposited upon the rat-z l t. As the plow proeeed-i forrrar(ll the potatoes and earth will ot' me; e pass. rear Wardh, upon the l'ziCh 14-. The rack it preterably engages the ground orer rrhieh the same passes. As the potatoes paw: ru

wardly upon the rack .H- the wtldt will be elevated when reaching '.rdl f tending; portions 19 ot the these upwardly extending gether with the rearW-ardl extending pol tions '20 of these bars will aid to break up soil and separate the potatoes from the soil. Furthermore, the runners or heels 21 will give a spring like supportto the rear ends of the bars l? and thus in a \ray serve to vibrate. the rack l t as a Whole and in this way more etl ufientl separate the soil from the potatoes. The prongs 24 will likewise further aid in separating the potatoes troni the associated soil and upon the soil and potatoes being); deposited at the rear of the rack 1 !v the potatoes will be principal upon the top surface of the soil and in this wa; can be easily gathered.

I claim:

1. ln combination with a plow ot the character described, a rack comprising a plurality of elongated bars arranged in spaced relation, means whereby said bars spaced relation nit-ans wherebr said bars may be secured to each other and also se cured to said plow \tl that the raclt wil more i eni tlltmoldboald ot the plow. angular-l extending prongs at the rear end and a enrxed hatllc nieniber carved and elongated rela- J "for the purpose de-z-rihcd thering' attachment tor a rip. "l jf a tranie inclod it of elongated and parallel ar law with the 'l'orn'ard ends set-tired and a heel tor the rear end oi each h heel :oniprisiiig' a bar having its nd wenred to its as ociated bar of the ns and bent intermediate its ends to proa ground er jll ,1: surface or heel. i: potato gathering attachment for a eoniprising. a frame including i. ot' elongated and parallel an need ars axith the, ioiwrard ends se ured gather and a heel tor the rear end ot' each :ar. e .h heel comprising a bar hating its one and secured to its associated 72H ot' the frame and bent interinedi: t'e its ends to provide a ground engaging: surface or heel. and, extermions carried by the rear end ot the 't'ranie bars. said niieirsirins being in ott-set relation to the top lure of the bars.

An attachment ot the charae 'er described. eoniprisinge tranie adapted to be secured to a p16 and in receiving relation to the soil which may be litted by the plow. and a curved battle member extending across the forward end ot the frame and rear wardly.

FREDERICK HENRY EDMONDS. 

